Unification Church and politics

Since its founder's start in advocating for the Korean independence movement, the Unification Church led by Sun Myung Moon has been highly politically active. The degree of involvement of the Unification Church, as well as some of its specific stances, have also been part of the reason for the movement's controversial status over the years. The belief in the establishment of a literal Kingdom of God on earth and church founder Sun Myung Moon's teaching that religion alone is not enough to bring this about provides a motivation for political involvement.

In the 1950s and 80s, the Unification Church set up media companies, research centers, and educational institutions that focused on anti-communist ideologies. The media heavily criticizeed them for possibly leading to nuclear war. The Unification Church also took part in politics, particularly concerning the reunification of Korea. Moon had links to conservative politicians, including members of the Abe family in Japan, leading to debates about the extent of the Unification Church's influence in political matters.

The Unification Church has distinct teachings on politics as depicted in its central book, the Divine Principle. The book argues that God-centered governance will eventually replace existing political structures. This is envisioned as a family-like structure with Moon serving as the monarch and being referred to as the "True Parent." The Unification Church teaches about establishing a “Kingdom of Heaven on Earth,” which would be a religious monarchy.

The Unification Church connections and activities in Japan was a subject of attention when a member of the Unification Church was implicated as the mother of the man who admitted to assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. In the United States, the involvement of Moon's son, Hyung Jin Moon, in the January 6 United States Capitol attack, was another instance that highlighted the Unification Church's engagement in political affairs.